Post #3783567

2026-07-12 19:48 UTC

The fact that a cypher like Platner was able to gain traction with Maine's electorate indicates a large, mostly untapped, well of enthusiasm for taxing the rich, imprisoning the corrupt and putting working people first. The Democrats would do well to stop denigrating those potential voters and instead try to woo them. 2/ #USPol #politics

Replies (2)

@Mab_813@fedi.at 2026-07-13 11:14

@troy_frizzell@mstdn.social If it's only about policies, why did Platner gain so much traction while the other progressive candidates in Maine didn't? hint: Because part of Democratic voters are very susceptible to the lies of a white charismatic man who pretends to be working class. And he wasn't even good at lying. His lies were so obvious. Why they fell so easily for his "rugged masculinity" is something they absolutely need to investigate. The very same people absolutely nitpick every female candidate's flaws while Platner's horrible scandals got the "Well nobody's perfect" or "That's just purity testing" treatment. Just pretending now that "they fell for his lies and are not to blame" is not going to cut it. Having the goal to "listen" more to women and people of colour is fine, but absolutely not enough. Former Platner fans need to ask themselves difficult questions about masculinity ideals, about himpathy, about white privilege (No way a candidate of colour would have survived that many scandals!). #Platner #USpol

Open ##3783566
@troy_frizzell@mstdn.social 2026-07-12 19:49

Secondly, Platner (it turns out) is a serial liar who is none of the things that he was running on. The fact that the left embraced him is not a fault of the left, it's a fault of the abusive liar. The left rejected him immediately once the closet full of skeletons was revealed. And to be fair, there were many who were never fooled. 3/ #USpol #politics

Open ##4392080